• [Dailystar Icon]
• News
• Latest News
• Shamima Begum

Ex-ISIS bride Shamima Begum could be free in days after violent clashes erupt

Infamous teen ISIS bride Shamima Begum, who was stripped of her British citizenship in 2019, could be freed from a Syrian detention camp over fears for safety as clashes breakout nearby

[ROJ CAMP, NE SYRIA - MARCH 14: British-born Shamima Begum from Bethnal Green in London, who joined Islamic State in Syria aged 15 in 2015, is photographed at Roj Camp, where she is currently interred with other women who were members of Islamic State, on March 14, 2021, in Roj camp, Syria. (Photo by Sam Tarling/Getty Images)]

Shamima Begum could soon be freed within days(Image: Getty Images)

Shamima Begum 'could be freed' from a Syrian detention camp after violent clashes have reportedly erupted outside the prison walls.

Begum, 26, who was stripped of her British citizenship in 2019, travelled to Syria to join the terrorist group as a teenager ISIS bride, aged 15.

She is currently being held in the al-Roj detention camp in north-east Syria, but may be released as conflicts with Islamic State continue.

The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which is backed by the US, runs the IS detention camps but has been struggling to hold ground in the region due to government forces.

Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa brokered a ceasefire with the SDF after his forces captured most of north-east, which was held by Kurdish forces.

[ROJ CAMP, NE SYRIA - NOVEMBER 17: British-born Shamima Begum from Bethnal Green in London, who joined Islamic State in Syria aged 15 in 2015, is photographed at Roj Camp, where she is currently interred with other women who were members of Islamic State, on November 17, 2021, in Roj camp, Syria. (Photo by Sam Tarling/Getty Images)]

Shamima Begum photographed at Roj Camp in 2021(Image: Getty Images)

However, violent crashes and the SDFs retreat has raised significant concerns for the safety of detainees and could see them now released, including Begum.

The latest series of violence came on Monday (January 19) outside three other detention facilities, including al-Aqtan prison near Raqqa, Deir al-Zour and al-Shadadi.

Begum, who is from London, recently looked to revive her bid to return to the UK after the European Court of Human Rights challenged the decision.

[Ahmed al-Sharaa]

Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa brokered a ceasefire with the SDF (Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)

In December, the European Court of Human Rights has demanded answers over the case of Shamima Begum in relation to state responsibilities for victims of trafficking, before the home secretary revoked her British citizenship.

Begum was married off to an IS fighter and was stripped of her British citizenship in February 2019 on the grounds of posing a threat to national security.

In a document published by the European court last year, it states Ms Begum is challenging the decision under Article 4 of the European Convention on Human Rights prohibition of slavery and forced labour.

Among four questions posed by judges in Strasbourg to the Home Office, it asked: Did the Secretary of State have a positive obligation, by virtue of Article 4 of the Convention, to consider whether the applicant had been a victim of trafficking, and whether any duties or obligations to her flowed from that fact, before deciding to deprive her of her citizenship?

For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletter by clicking here.

[Dailystar Icon]

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Choose Daily Star as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.